Spanish language learning forums

Spanish language learning forums (http://forums.tomisimo.org/index.php)
-   Technical things (http://forums.tomisimo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=52)
-   -   Pronunciation of "x" (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=21026)

Glen March 30, 2016 07:09 PM

Pronunciation of "x"
 
Having been to a few pronunciation sites already I'm still at a loss for how to say Necaxa as in Don Ramón's catchphrase Yo le voy al Necaxa. My DVD is not that clear-sounding when he says it. Could someone please spell it phonetically? I'm tempted to think Neh-cah-hah because of the way "x" is pronounced in the word México. Am I right?

AngelicaDeAlquezar March 30, 2016 08:21 PM

There are many ways to pronounce "x": /sh/, /j/, /s/, /ks/, and the /j/; I don't know any rules for that. ;(

Glen March 30, 2016 08:32 PM

So I'd be alright with the sound of /j/ then?

AngelicaDeAlquezar March 30, 2016 11:27 PM

Oh no!
My fault. I had written the phonetics but I somehow deleted it when I reworded my post. Sorry. :duh:

/nekaksa/ Like the "x" of "axe" in English.

Glen March 31, 2016 06:55 PM

Got it now. An "x" like the the English way of pronouncing "Mexico." Thanks! Even so, since El Chavo is a Mexican program then I wonder why it's not with a "j" like they say Méjico.

AngelicaDeAlquezar March 31, 2016 08:42 PM

As I said, there are many ways to pronounce "x" sounds here, and there are no clear rules for that. Most of the words with "x" come from different pre Hispanic languages, so they obey to specific sounds in the original language and to the different variations the Spaniards introduced when they couldn't pronounce them all.

pjt33 April 02, 2016 07:12 AM

Just to add to Angélica's comment about pre-Hispanic languages, in Iberian languages, x is pronounced as a sh sound except in Spanish. However, the change in Spanish is more recent than Spanish colonisation of the Americas. The x in México comes from the name of the Mexica people, pronounced roughly Mesh-i-ka and spelt Mexica because that's how the conquistadores romanised the Nahuatl name.

pinosilano December 07, 2016 10:06 AM

Por mucho tiempo yo sabía que el país, en castellano, se llamaba 'Méjico" y que los Nordamericanos lo llamaban Mexico.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:12 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.